Moscow, 8 September 1997 (RFE/RL) - Russian ground controllers say the latest failure of the main computer aboard the Mir space station is not serious and repairs will be made tomorrow.

The head of mission control near Moscow, Vladimir Solovyov, said the cause of the breakdown was a faulty piece of hardware which would be replaced. Solovyov said all systems ensuring the three-man crew's safety were functioning as normal.

Although the computer problem shut down Mir's stabilization system, which keeps the station's electricity producing solar panels orientated toward the sun, there was sufficient power and no immediate need to repoint Mir using thruster rockets.